DODGERS NOTEBOOK: IT'S FINGERS DOWN FOR PARK.Byline: Brian Dohn Daily News Staff Writer Right-hander Chan Ho Park has given up nine homers in seven starts, opponents are hitting .275 against him and his 3-2 record is far from what the Dodgers expected. Pitching coach Charlie Hough So earlier in the week, Park got a new glove with a sewn-in pocket to hide his index finger - and conceal the upcoming pitch. ``He would move his finger when he gripped the ball,'' Hough n. 1. Same as Hock, a joint. v. t. 1. Same as Hock, to hamstring. [ imp. & p. p. os> r>; p. pr. & vb. n. os> n. 1. An adz; a hoe. v. t. 1. To cut with a hoe. said. ``He would straighten it out when he pitched a fastball and press it (against the glove) with a curve ball.'' Park could put his finger inside his glove to pitch, but the comfort factor makes it easier to use a glove that has the pocket. Park said it's most visible when he pitches with runners on base. ``For some pitches, I move my finger,'' Park said. ``Now, I don't have to worry about it. It's better to not show them anything. There's 15 hitters in the dugout and they're looking at it.'' Last season, opponents hit .244 with 16 homers in Parks' 34 starts. This season is much different. Park has struggled since his second outing of the season, when he yielded a grand slam grand slam n. 1. The winning of all the tricks during the play of one hand in bridge and other whist-derived card games. 2. Sports The winning of all the major or specified events, especially on a professional circuit. to Arizona's Travis Lee Travis Lee (born on May 26, 1975 in San Diego, California) is a former major league first baseman. Travis Lee graduated from Capital High School in Olympia, Washington in 1993. . Park also gave up a pair of grand slams to St. Louis' Fernando Tatis in one inning - the only time that's been done - and had a miserable time Sunday against the Florida Marlins. Staked to a 4-0 lead, Park gave up three homers to the Marlins in a game the Dodgers eventually lost. The tipping-off-pitches problem is also something Hough corrected with former Dodgers left-hander Brian Bohanon, who is 5-1 with the Colorado Rockies. ``When he first came over (from the Mets), he gave up three homers in a game to the Padres and afterward said he may be doing something in his windup,'' Hough said. ``We looked at it and changed a few things. With Chan Ho, the (glove) at least gives him confidence that they're not getting his pitches.'' Hero's welcome: Staff Sgt. Andy Ramirez, one of three recently released prisoners of war prisoners of war, in international law, persons captured by a belligerent while fighting in the military. International law includes rules on the treatment of prisoners of war but extends protection only to combatants. in Yugoslavia, threw out the ceremonial first pitch The ceremonial first pitch is longstanding ritual of American baseball in which a guest of honor throws a ball to mark the end of pregame festivities and the start of the game. and watched the game from general manager Kevin Malone's private box. The Dodgers also presented Ramirez, 24, an East Los Angeles East Los Angeles, uninc. city (1990 pop. 126,379), Los Angeles co., S Calif., a residential suburb of Los Angeles, in an industrial area. It has a large Mexican-American population. There is a performing arts center and a cultural center. A junior college is there. native, with a lifetime pass to Dodger Stadium. Before the game Ramirez toured the clubhouse with Malone and met the players and manager Davey Johnson. Ramirez spent 32 days as a prisoner of war PRISONER OF WAR. One who has been captured while fighting under the banner of some state. He is a prisoner, although never confined in a prison. 2. In modern times, prisoners are treated with more humanity than formerly; the individual captor has now no before being released from captivity last Wednesday. He has been in the Army for seven years. Balks, walks and chalk: Dodgers right-hander Darren Dreifort will make his scheduled start tonight. Team doctors gave him the go-ahead after a CAT scan CAT scan (kăt) [computerized axial tomography], X-ray technique that allows relatively safe, painless, and rapid diagnosis in previously inaccessible areas of the body; also called CT scan. revealed there was no further damage to his right shin. Dreifort, who had surgery on the leg during the offseason to relieve shin splints Shin Splints Definition Shin splints refer to the sharp pains that occur down the front of the lower leg. They are a common complaint, particularly among runners and other athletes. , experienced swelling after his last start. He said the condition is painful, but he'll pitch through it. ``The only thing you can do (to relieve the pain) is shut it down, and that ain't happening,'' Dreifort said. . . . Jose Vizcaino made his eighth start in nine games, this time at shortstop. Before the game, Dodgers shortstop Mark Grudzielanek was hitting grounders to Kevin Brown at shortstop in an effort to hit down on the ball and eliminate pop-ups. Grudzielanek went 0 for 5 with five fly outs in his last start and 64 percent of his outs have come via strikeout or by hitting the ball in the air. DODGERS vs. CHICAGO CUBS Time: 7:35 p.m., at Dodger Stadium. TV/Radio: Fox Sports West 2; 1150-AM, KWKW-AM (1330 Spanish). Matchup: The Dodgers wrap up a six-game homestand and their three-game series with the Cubs by sending right-hander Darren Dreifort (4-2, 5.08 ERA) against Cubs righty right·y Informal n. pl. right·ies 1. A right-handed person. 2. An advocate or member of the political right. adv. Kevin Tapani (2-1, 2.25). In his last outing, Dreifort was pulled after 6-1/3 innings and took the loss when reliever Alan Mills allowed a pinch-hit grand slam to Bruce Aven of the Florida Marlins. Dreifort leads the Dodgers with 25 walks but walked just one batter in each of his last two starts. Since coming off the disabled list, Tapani has pitched well. He is only one of two Cubs pitchers to have more innings pitched (24) than hits allowed (21). - Brian Dohn CAPTION(S): Box BOX: DODGERS vs. CHICAGO CUBS (see text) |
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